Red Bryant: New beef for Seahawks’ defensive end spot

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In an effort to beef up their defensive end position, the Seahawks made a move this weekend. A very big move, in terms of body type.

After adding numerous smaller speed rushers to help quench coach Pete Carroll’s desire for putting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Seahawks are looking to balance the beef by moving third-year pro Red Bryant to defensive end in some situations.

Red Bryant, shown here at last year’s training camp, is being tried now at defensive end in the Seahawks’ new scheme. (Getty Images/Otto Greule Jr.)

The experiment is the idea of defensive line coach Dan Quinn, based on the team’s need to defend the run better at the point of attack while also employing speed off the edge with linebacker Aaron Curry or one of the smaller rush ends.

Bryant, at 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, certainly brings a different dimension to the outside of the line. He looked good at the end position in Seattle’s final two minicamp practices Saturday and Sunday, though obviously there’s a big difference between padless workouts and full-tilt NFL game action.

But for Bryant, a fourth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2008, it’s a fresh spark in a career that has never quite got off the ground yet with limited action in just 10 games his first two seasons.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Bryant said after minicamp closed Sunday. “I’m going on my third year and it’s time for Seattle to get something. Any way I can help the team, any way I can get on the field, I’m going to take advantage of it.”

Bryant said he hasn’t played defensive end since his high school days in Jasper, Texas, but the position feels natural to him the way the Seahawks are drawing things up with their new scheme.

Bryant would fill what the Seahawks are calling the “five technique” spot on their defensive line, with Lawrence Jackson or one of the numerous speed rushers like Chris Clemons, Nick Reed, Ricky Foley or Dexter Davis at the other end, flanking defensive tackles Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane.

“The only difference is it’s just more space,” Bryant said. “As far as me being able to take the line of scrimmage and hold the point, I’m pretty good at that. So it almost feels natural. The transition isn’t as hard as I first thought it would be. When he first told me, I didn’t know. But I’ve been doing it a few practices now and am steadily getting better.

“I still have a lot to work on, but the coaches believe I can play it, I believe I can play it, my teammates believe I can play it. So we’ll see what happens.”

Carroll said Bryant has looked good in his new role so far.

“Obviously he gives us a big guy playing over there and with what we’re trying to do with the run game, he made a good showing,” Carroll said. “It’s going to take all the way to camp and pads and all that kind of stuff to get a good assessment, but this is by far the best condition he’s been in in years.

“He worked diligently in the offseason program. His feet are quick and he’s still a big man. He’s always going to be a big guy. He’s moving well enough and he plays technique and a style that gives us a chance to play him there. He looks very good for the first couple days so I’m really pleased about that. It’s a place where we need help in the run game. We’ll see how that works out.”

Jacob Green, Bryant’s father-in-law, holds the Seahawks’ sack record with 116 from his playing days from 1980-91. (Getty Images file photo)

Bryant won’t have to go far to get advice on playing defensive end. His father-in-law is Jacob Green, the premier pass rusher in Seahawks history with a franchise-record 116 sacks from 1980-91.

“I talk to him all the time,” Bryant said. “He’s extremely tough on me. He tells me all the time, year three they kind of get an idea of whether you’re going to be a player or not. He’s brutally honest with me and that’s what you need at this level. You need somebody to be honest with you and he’s always going to be that.”

So what does his famous father-in-law think of him filling not only his No. 79 jersey, but possibly even his same defensive end position?

“He doesn’t even know I’m out there yet, but I’ll share it with him,” Bryant said with a smile. “He always wanted me to be like a 300-pounder or 290. So when I tell him I’m playing outside, he’s really going to be harping on my weight now.”

Bryant acknowledges his first two years have been disappointing. He was inactive for 10 of Seattle’s 16 games last season and totaled eight tackles as a backup behind Cole and Mebane.

“It’s been extremely tough because I have high expectations,” he said. “I want to be out here playing. We were 4-12 my first year and 5-11 my second year and I still hadn’t got on the field. So I had to evaluate myself and ask if I’m doing everything I need to do to be successful.

“I’m excited for this year. It’s a new coach, a new attitude and a new opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of it.”